This has nothing to do with street funding, but wouldn’t you rather see a wild bunny in a west Albany yard than another photo of a potholed street?
While the Albany City Council considers a new street maintenance fee, a council majority also wants to explore a local fuel tax and a bond issue to fund street repairs.
That’s what emerged from yet another council discussion Wednesday of ways to improve the condition of local streets, some of which are pockmarked with potholes in patches of previous potholes.
The council could not muster unanimous agreement on reading a proposed street fee ordinance for the second time at the same meeting. So action on the measure had to be postponed until the next meeting, which will be a work session on Sept. 23. (The council is taking a six-week break.)
Council members held voice votes saying they want to seek a local fuel tax for street funding and a general obligation bond issue that would increase property taxes.
(Watching all this via video, I could not tell who voted which way. For individual votes, we’ll have to wait for the clerk’s summary of the meeting, due in a day or two.)
Both a fuel tax and a bond issue would require voter approval. It was Councilwoman Jackie Montague (Ward 2) who made the motions to pursue both.
As for the ordinance on a street maintenance fee, it imposes one but leaves the details, such as the amount per month, to be enacted by council resolution at a later time.
The details are complicated and will take several months to work out. (hh)
Postscript: Newton-Azorr and Novak objected to the second reading of the street fee ordinance, so the second reading will happen at the next regular meeting on Sept. 25. Kopczynski voted “no” on seeking a fuel tax. Novak voted “no” on seeking a bond issue. McGhee was absent.
Comments from your 20 or so regulars incoming in 3-2-1
Surprisingly, there were a few new ones in the last batch on this topic, weren’t there?
The bot accounts are getting savvier?
Street repairs cost money. Not everyone will like where to get the funds from. That’s reality.
A bond sale does not provide long term sustainable funding for maintenance and the city already receives state gas tax funding. Also a city gas tax does not address electric vehicles.
I suggest the council review their current available funding and maintenance program before insisting on new additional funding. Their timing couldn’t be much worse.
Forgot to thank Hasso for the picture of the bunny. But, this is serious, Hasso….the levying of more and more fees. So, more pictures of potholes are necessary…along with pictures of wildlife, of course. I wonder how the wildlife like the new Kiddie’s park?
After hearing the scope of the deferred maintenance on city streets at a local service club meeting, it seemed at the time bond funding would be inevitable and perhaps the best approach. Getting owners to approve a bond if the street out their front door looks just fine, may be a hard sell. At the end of the day, decent streets are a core function of local government and every neighborhood deserves decent streets. By and large Albany is a wonderful place to live; we have excellent city staff, and dedicated and thoughtful city counselors/mayor. I appreciate these thoughtful public servants as they wrestle with huge challenges like this.
Well said!
It seems the only Councillors brave enough to resist the Cabal of govt pogues was Matilda Novak and Newton-Azorr. But it looks as though gov doublespeak served up by the rest of the officious and dutifying city staff – who desire to tax the folk of Albany by decree, rather than by legitimate means will win in the end.
Their main argument seemingly is “We can’t get the money any other way!”
No longer any need to obtain conscent form citizens. Tax away ye pogues!
Where does it end? Not good.
I just want to add to my first comment that what I was referencing was the “street fee” proposal to be added to your utility bill…a move they already pulled…$9.00/mo Ka-ching!
I get that Hassos’ post today is re Gas Tax and Bond (which would req voter approval) in addition to the additional aprox $16.00/mo Ka-ching! that they now wish to add….with no end in sight an changeable at any time.
I watched last nites’ Council on youtube and there was only ever maybe 12 people watching…so sad….Because I wish people could have seen how both Novak and to a lesser extent but still valuable Azorr tried so hard to represent the already cash strapped folk Albany to try to save us from they Mayor Alex and city mgr P Trodessons’ Tax Tyranny Intentions. Both unwilling to consider many other possible funding (for street repairs) as presented by Councillor Novak
“Go Big or Go Home” – unknown
At least they are going home for 6 weeks and can do no more harm until they return.
Side note: Nobody increases the sale of EVs like the Albany city council.
Oh they’s be back, and they’ll keep coming back until they’ve drained you of all they can get or at the least, get away with.
Isn’t a six week break a violation of the city charter?
Hasso: How did Smith and Montague vote on the street fee?
They and Kopczynski voted to have the street fee ordinance read a second time at the same meeting, but if any member objects, the second reading will be at the next regular meeting.
Sorry. I forgot that Montague proposed both the fee and the bond for streets, so she was no doubt for them. And, does Ray K. want a bond and Novak wants a fuel tax? Hasso, while I am typing, want to say your picture of the bunny backfired. You aren’t getting as many comments on this blog piece apparently because you didn’t go with another picture of a pothole or a chewed-up street. Lesson learned, I hope.
How is it that the city council and mayor have the right to steal money from the people with out a vote on what they are try to do . In most instances these should come down to the tax payers to decide on what is good for the community.But there are other issues that effect the road here in or community as in 18 wheelers and Farm equipment that actually cause more damage to or major roads .But yet the first thing you want to go after is the taxes payers of the community.Seems kind of one side like always with the board in charge of or city .Maybe the wrong people where elected ? Are just maybe they can make the effort to figure out that we do have a lot of business that cause a lot of road deterioration to or streets .I know we get federal and state money to maintain or streets maybe the system needs look at with another pair of eyes ?
“Just give us more money” If we can get the money we’ll do it right this time.
I know, I know, we’ve been squandering your money but we’re better now…
…Well maybe just a little more squandering….but we can quit any time we want…
…And if you would be so kind as to just look the other way while we stick our mitts in your pockets…We only need to take (steal) a little from each of you…
Just imagine if every person “allowed” us to just say “lift” like maybe 16 bucks….
….”What a bright world this would be…”…
….And that will be it! We’ll never steal from you again….and maybe we’ll even steal a little less next time….Heck maybe we’ll even give some back! Like in a Disney movie! f
We would have asked for it but we knew you’d say no. And that’s just not acceptable because actually you are not all that bright or virtuous….but it’s ok….That’s why we’re here! You voted for us! And we’re here to do your bidding. And to stop you from making any bad decisions. And to take a little of your money without permission.
Life is good!
farm equipment? yikes! talk about biting the hand that feeds ya.
Our elected representatives are deciding on this, so it’s obviously not taxation without representation.
If a tax to fix roads was put to a popular vote, it wouldn’t pass because most people don’t live on one of the really bad streets. Most folks do not care about a rough street on the other side of town. Think before whining.
I urge everyone to go to the YouTube video of the discussion on this topic. You can fast forward, if you wish, it began around 2 hours and 15 minutes in. Kudos to Matilda Novak for her attempt to get the others to look outside the box for funding. I think we can all agree that our city streets are in need of repair but I believe it’s time our city government learns to tighten their belts and live within the budget they developed. Instead of immediately responding with making threats of impacting public safety, increasing response time for police, fire and EMS or shutting down the children’s programs at the library go through the budget with a fine tooth comb, look at instituting a hiring freeze, and ways to cut back. Make a good faith effort to listen to the citizens, many of whom are making difficult choices in their own lives to make ends meet.
Just a thought- Remember the “red light” cameras the city installed, is paying a monthly fee to an outside company for and was hiring additional staff to handle the processing of tickets? Was the anticipated revenue dedicated to a specific project? In December Police Chief Harnden stated they estimated the revenue to be $3 million annually. Could the money obtained from these cameras be put toward street repairs?
The new cameras have not been installed.